Vapor-burner.



Patented Dec. l6, I902.

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/ s O -1 -I! s n n v A A BALL, 1R VAPOR BURNER. (Application filed Dec. 2, 1901.

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(No Model.)

00i messes:

UNITED AUGUSTUS A. BALL, JR., OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS.

VAPOR-BURNER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 716,167, dated December 16, 1902.

Application filed December 2 1901. Serial No. 84,300. (No model.)

. To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AUGUSTUS A. BALL, Jr. a citizenof the United States, residing at Lyn n, county of Essex, State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improve- The scope of the invention will be more fully set forth in the description and claims appended thereto. v

Inthe accompanying drawings, which illustrate an embodiment of my invention, Figure 1 is a vertical section of the burner, taken on line 1 1 of Fig. 2. Fig 2 is a plan View of the burner with certain of theparts broken away, and Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

1 represents theboiler-casingand 2 the cylindrical casing which surrounds the burner. The upper end of the burner-casing is provided with an outwardly-extending flange for securing it to the boiler-casing by the bolts 3. By making the burner-casing separate from that of the boiler the burner may readily be removed for inspection or repair. It also facilitates the inspection or repair of the boiler. The lower end of the burnercasing is provided with an outwardly-extending flange, and the base 4 of the burner is secured thereto by bending the edge around said flange. The base or bottom plate 4: is

. provided witha plurality of perforations arranged to receive the vertically-extending air-carrying tubes 5. The base is preferably made with a punch and die, and the holes for the several air-carrying tubes 5 and for the rivets 10 are made at the same time.

Extending parallel with the base of the burner is a top plate 6, which is provided with a series of perforations that register with the tubes 5, and consequently with the perforations in the bottom plate 4:. They are made large enough to provide a space for the gas to escape around the air-carrying tubes. In addition to the holes or perforations arranged to receive the tubes 5 holes are provided to receive the bolts or rivets 7 for securing the intermediate plate 8 in place.

The top plate 6 is also provided with a downwardly-extending side portion or wall 9, the latter being flared outwardly at the lower end and secured to the base by rivets 10.

Situated a short distance below the top plate is an intermediate plate 8, and between this plate and the base 4 is formed a distributing-chamber 11. The downwardly-extending portion 9 of the top plate forms the side wall for this chamber and also for the chamber 14:. The distribution-chamber receives vapor or gas from the injector-tube 12, which tube is made removable for the purpose of inspection and cleaning. The object of the chamber is to distribute the gas over an extended area, to equalize the pressure, and to prevent it from passing to the burner in a series of puffs. The intermediate plate is provided with a plurality of openings for receiving the vertically-extending air-carrying tubes 5. These openings are arranged to register with those in the base. The periphery of the plate engages with the verticallyextending side wall 9; but no particular edort is made to make a tight fit at this point. In addition to the perforations above mentioned a second set of perforations '13 is provided, which are preferably made at the same time as those for the tubes 5. The perforations 13 are distributed over an extended area and are located at points between the vertically-extending tubes. These perforations or holes permit gas in sufficient amount to pass from the distribution chamber to maintain the burner in operation. Between the top and intermediate plates and surrounding the rivets 7 are spacers 17, which hold the plates at a fixed distance apart, thereby forming a small chamber between them. The space or chamber 1 L between the top and intermediate plates should be relatively small in the vertical dimension, so as to prevent back-firing. As shown, the gas passes from the distribution-chamber 11 through the openings 13 in the intermediate plate into the space 14, thence through the annular openings around the tubes 5 into the fire-chamber 15. 1 have found by making the burner as illustrated that the fire cannot creep back through the chamber 14 into the distribution-chamber 11.

The vertically-extending tubes 5 are made of ordinary seamless tubing and are secured to the bottom plate by slightly expanding the end, as shown in Fig. 1. They are expanded at their upper ends to make a tight fit with the intermediate plate 8. By this construction it will be seen that the dish-like member consisting of the transverse plate 6 and the wall 9 isnot directly secured to the tubes, so that when it is desired to substitute a new top plate the bolts can be removed and a new one mounted at a small expense. The top plate is of course subjected to more or less intense heat and is liable to crack; but I have found with the construction shown that even if a material crack develops the burner will continue to operate satisfactorily on account of the restricted chamber 14, which prevents the fire working back into the distributiouchamber 11.

The protection afforded to the intermediate plate 8 by the top plate 6 and the chamber 14 is great enough to eliminate all danger from cracking or warping due to heat.

The plates are all made of punchings, and no nice fits requiring expensive machine-work are necessary. In fact, the pieces can be as sembled just as they are received from the punches and dies. The tubes 5, being mechanically well supported at the top and bottom, are always maintained in fixed alinement, and a circular gas-opening of definite area is provided and one not liable to be obstructed by any foreign matter. Theobject 'in providing a circular gas-opening is to obtain a large flame-surface and afford an opportunity for the air passing through the tubes 5 to properly mix with the vapor.

Extending across the burner at a point somewhat above the gas-openings is a vaporizer, consisting of a pipe 16, bent back'and forth in any suitable manner to present an extended area to the flames. The outer end of the pipe is bent downward and is located in close proximity to the conical mouth of the injector-tube 12. The burner is intended for use with hydrocarbon or liquid fuel, and I have found that it works very satisfactorily with kerosene. It will give a blue flame and perfect combustion and also burn silently, a very important feature in connection with all burners, and more especially with those designed for use on vehicles.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is 1. In a burner, the combination of a perforated base-plate, a second perforated plate situated above the first, air-carrying tubes extending through both plates and expanded in a manner to make a tight fit therewith, and a third perforated plate which is exposed to the flames and is separated from the second by a small chamber to prevent back-firing.

2. In a burner, the combination of a perforated base-plate, asecond perforated plate situated above the first and separated therefrom by a space which forms a distributionchamber, a third perforated plate located above the second and separated therefrom by a small space to prevent back-firing, a wall common to both of the chambers, and air-carrying tubes which pass through both of the chambers.

3. In a burner, the combination of a perforated base-plate, a second perforated plate situated above the first, and separated therefrom by a space, a third perforated plate having a downwardly-extending wall which incloses the space between the first and second plate and forms a distribution-chamber, and a second chamber located between the second and third plates for preventing back-firing.

4. In a burner, the combination of a perforated base-plate, a second plate also perforated located above the first,tubes which pass through the perforations and are secured to both plates, fuel-openings formed in the second plate, a top plate provided with perforations through which the tubes freely extend, and a wall formed integrally with the top plate which forms the side of the burner.

5. In a burner, the combination of a baseplate,a perforated plate having a downwardlyextending wall, air-carrying tubes which are rigidly secured to the base-plate and pass freely through the top plate, an intermediate plate which is rigidly secured to the tubes and is provided with fuel-openings, means for securing the top and intermediate plates, and means for separating the plates so that a chamber is formed between them to prevent back-firing.

6. In a burner, the combination of a top, bottom and an intermediate plate all of which are perforated, air-carrying tubes which pass through the perforations, and a plurality of fuel-openings which are formed in the intermediate plate and are located at points between the tube-perforations.

7. In a burner, the combination of a cylindrical casing having outwardlyextending flanges at the top and bottom, a perforated base plate, which is secured to the lower flange, a top plate having a downwardly-extending wall which is secured to the base-plate and is provided with fuel-openings, an intermediate plate separated from the top plate by a small space to prevent back-firing, a distribution-chamber formed between the intermediate and base plates, air-carrying tubes which extend from the base through the top plate, an injector tube which extends through the cylindrical casing and the wall of the top plate for conveying vapor into the distribution-chamber, and a vaporizer which is exposed to the flame from the burner and opens into the injection-tube.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 29th day of November, 1901.

AUGUSTUS A. BALL, JR.

Witnesses:

ALEX. F. MACDONALD, DUGALD MoK. MoKILLoP. 

